Experts Confirm the Double Dose Flu Vaccine for Infants

Scientists have reported findings that lend support to the double dose vaccination of kids against flu, pneumonia and influenza like diseases.

Publishing results in the Journal of Pediatrics, Dr Mandy A. Allison, of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and colleagues said their findings confirmed the effectiveness of two doses of flu vaccine for toddlers and kids aged between 6 and 21 months.

The researchers analyzed data for 5193 healthy children between the ages of six and 21 months seen at practices during the 2003-2004-flu season.

The kids were defined as being partially vaccinated if they had one shot more than 14 days before the first influenza-like illness visit, and fully vaccinated if they had the full two shots more than 14 days before the first visit.

In all, 28 percent of the children were seen for influenza-like illness and five percent had a visit for pneumonia or influenza.

It was seen that Full vaccination was 69 percent effective in preventing visits for influenza-like illness and 87 percent effective in preventing visits for pneumonia or influenza.

This is comparable to the effectiveness of the vaccine in adults say the researchers.

In contrast this effect was not seen in partially vaccinated children, as they were just as likely to visit doctors for flu like illnesses or pneumonia.

Allison concludes that the findings not only support the universal recommendation of flu shots for infants but also the double dosage of the vaccine.

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